Lab Nazanin

A couple of weeks ago I had to transport my senile father to the E.R. after he claimed he was coughing up bloody phlegm. He had an upper respiratory infection. I knew it wasn't too big of a deal, but he had an intense panic attack. Weeping, face flushed read, feeling aspyxiated. Being surrounded by doctors makes him feel comfortable, and older Iranians treat their physicians on the same level as otherworldly deities.

Baba's been a widow for the past seventeen years, after his wife died from an long-running battle with breast cancer. He himself was diagnosed with having some benign tumors inside his lungs years ago, but shows no symptoms. All this has, however, made him into an insane hypochondriac. So he's constantly analyzing himself and preparing himself for doomsday.

We all know people personally that have somehow been affected by cancer. So the 'Persian-American Cancer Institute' sounds like a good thing, I guess. They've already had big fundraisers hosted by the likes of Maz Jobrani (who this year had a parent die from cancer, I believe). Join their Facebook group and feel better about yourself, and perhaps make someone else feel better too.